Close to 1,500 journalists to cover Trump-Putin meeting in Helsinki

Most of the reporters travelling to Finland for the July 16 summit will be from the US, Russia and Europe.

Some 1,400 media representatives from 61 countries have made plans to travel to Finland in the coming days to report on the Helsinki Summit – a meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

While most of the journalists will be making the trip from the US, Russia and Europe, the group includes some news writers from Taiwan, Algeria and the Philippines as well. The event is expected to fill hotels and restaurants in the Finnish capital.

The country with the most accredited reporters on the scene is Finland, with 368 journalists and photographers registered. Finlandia Hall will function as the official press centre during the proceedings.

CNN based at Allas Sea Pool

Several international media companies have reserved places to broadcast from the downtown harbour area of Helsinki. Some outlets will be broadcasting live from the Market Square, while others will be working out of the Allas Sea Pool premises, a new outdoor swimming pool complex in the Helsinki city centre.

Allas' CEO Bodil Ståhl told Yle on Wednesday that 150 media professionals have been given permission to use his premises, but that he can only confirm one of the news services' names at this point - the American news channel CNN.

Ståhl says that everyone at the Allas Sea Pool is working quickly to erect different kinds of tents and protection from the wind at the complex.

"The broadcasts have to go out no matter what the weather. Technology and web connections must also work without fail," he says.

Kippis = Keep Peace!

Even though the international media groups will start broadcasting from the site on the weekend, Ståhl maintains that the extra activities shouldn't interfere with swimmers that plan to go for a dip at the complex.

"We are going to try and remain open. We've told the media companies from the start that the sauna bathing and swimming will continue as normal. Of course, if the meeting takes place at the Presidential Palace, the whole nearby area will be put in lock-down, and we will have to close the pool," he says.

Changes to Helsinki's street scene are becoming apparent in other places beyond the harbour, as the Finlandia Hall was washed down to shine brightly this week, and the five-star Hotel Kämp unrolled a banner across one of the main streets of the city.